Annawan rolls to title

Thursday

Feb 7, 2013 at 9:37 PMFeb 7, 2013 at 9:40 PM

Hosts defeat Wethersfield 75-59 to capture regional championship

Mike Landis

Class 1A Annawan RegionalAnnawan 75, Wethersfield 59The Bravettes blew open a tight regional championship game with a third-quarter blitz Thursday night.Annawan led 30-26 at the half, then put the Lady Geese away with a 25-5 run in the third frame.Annawan’s big quarter extended its lead to 55-31 and the Bravettes cruised home for the regional plaque.After 16 minutes, the title game looked like anything but a romp for the Bravettes.Consecutive hoops by Celina VanHyfte and a Megan Foes free throw allowed the Bravettes to lead 16-11 at the quarter.Another VanHyfte bucket gave Annawan its biggest lead of the half early in the second quarter, 22-13, but the Lady Geese battled back behind a pair of Kristen Parsons threes and a Sarah Hansen trey to trail just 28-26.VanHyfte knocked down a pair of free throws before halftime to put the Bravettes on top 30-26 at the break.Annawan took control in the opening minutes of the second half, scoring the first eight points of the third quarter to extend the margin to 38-26. The Bravettes closed the quarter with a flurry of points off Wethersfield turnovers as the lead ballooned to 55-31.VanHyfte led the Bravettes with 30 points, followed by Foes with 16 and Maddie Jackson and Paige Randall with nine apiece.The Bravettes advance to the Illinois Valley CC Sectional at Oglesby, where they meet the winner of the Serena Regional at 7:30 p.m. Monday. Results from that title game — Newark vs. Serena — were unavailable at press time.Hansen closed her Wethersfield career with 24 points, followed by Parsons with 14.Wethersfield bows out at 23-8 on the season.

Three-Point ShowdownSarah Hansen and Anissa Jackson of Wethersfield, Nicole Withrow of Galva and Ashley Collins of Ridgewood advanced to sectional competition in the Three-Point Showdown from the Class 1A Annawan Regional.No local shooters advanced in the competition from the Class 2A Kewanee Regional.

Also Thursday night...Results from the Class 2A Kewanee Regional title game — Knoxville vs. Peoria Christian — were unavailable at press time. ... The Class 1A Hinckley Big-Rock Regional title game was postponed due to inclement weather and will played at 6:30 p.m. Saturday. Hinckley-Big Rock plays Shabbona Indian Creek for the championship. ... Putnam County defeated Midland 40-32 to win the Class 1A Midland Regional title.